This is a short list of 52 “core” Irish session tunes. For the long list, go to the Irish & Celtic Tune List page.
About the TrailJams 52 Core Irish Tune List
With thousands of Irish and Celtic tunes to choose from, where should you start? This list narrows that universe to just 52 good tunes to start with as you begin learning Irish tunes and building your repertoire. Why these particular tunes? These were chosen because they are tunes that are commonly played in sessions. They were also chosen to avoid the more difficult and more rare tunes.
Why 52 tunes? It’s a bit of a gimmick: 52 tunes gives you one tune per week for a year. It’s also the number of playing cards in a standard deck. But most importantly, it gives enough tunes to give you some variety and the ability to build sets (medleys) of tunes, while avoiding an overwhelmingly long list.
This list will occasionally be revised.
Learn it with Soundslice in TrailJams Tune Camp
For many of the tunes listed here there is a Soundslice tutorial in TrailJams Tune Camp. The tutorials let you loop on any part of a tune, adjust the tempo, see dynamic sheet music and tablature, and more. TrailJams Tune Camp is a subscription resource, and your subscription supports the TrailJams project. Learn more about TrailJams Tune Camp and Soundslice. In the tune list below, click Unlock to unlock the tutorial for a tune. (You only need to do that once). If you’ve already unlocked the tutorial, just click Learn to jump to the tutorial.
View & Download this list as a PDF file
Reels
Click a tune’s name to go to its web page. Or use “Unlock” & “Learn” to go to its tutorial.
- Banshee, The (G) Unlock Learn
- Cooley’s Reel (Em or E Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Earl’s Chair, The (D) Unlock Learn
- Far from Home (G) Unlock Learn
- Father Kelly’s Reel (G, aka The Rossmore Jetty) Unlock Learn
- Maid Behind the Bar, The (D) Unlock Learn
- Man of the House, The (E Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Merry Blacksmith, The (D) Unlock Learn
- Mountain Road, The (D)
- Sally Gardens, The (G) Unlock Learn
- Ships are Sailing (E Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Silver Spear, The (D)
- Star of Munster, The (A Dorian)
- Wind that Shakes the Barley, The (D)
Jigs
Click a tune’s name to go to its web page. Or use “Unlock” & “Learn” to go to its tutorial.
- Banish Misfortune (D Mixolydian)
- Behind the Haystack (D) Unlock Learn
- Blarney Pilgrim, The (D Mixolydian) Unlock Learn
- Cliffs of Moher (A Dorian)
- Connaughtman’s Rambles, The (D) Unlock Learn
- Garrett Barry’s Jig (D Mixolydian)
- Geese in the Bog, The (C) Unlock Learn
- I Buried my Wife and Danced on Her Grave (D Mixolydian) Unlock Learn
- Jimmy Ward’s (Jig, G) Unlock Learn
- Kesh Jig (G) Unlock Learn
- Kitty Lie Over (see Paddy’s Return)
- Lilting Banshee (A Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Morrison’s Jig (E Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Mug of Brown Ale (A Dorian)
- Out on the Ocean (G) Unlock Learn
- Paddy’s Return (D) Unlock Learn
- Rambling Pitchfork, The (D) Unlock Learn
- Rolling Waves, The (D, a.k.a. The Humours of Trim)
- Scatter the Mud (A Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Tobin’s Favorite (D)
Hornpipes
Click a tune’s name to go to its web page. Or use “Unlock” & “Learn” to go to its tutorial.
- Boys of Bluehill, The (D) Unlock Learn
- Harvest Home (D) Unlock Learn
- Off to California (G)
- Rights of Man, The (Em) Unlock Learn
Polkas
Click a tune’s name to go to its web page. Or use “Unlock” & “Learn” to go to its tutorial.
- Ballydesmond Polka #1 (A Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Ballydesmond Polka #2 (A Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Britches full of Stitches (G, A) Unlock Learn
- John Ryan’s Polka (D) Unlock Learn
Slip Jigs & Hop Jigs 9/8
Click a tune’s name to go to its web page. Or use “Unlock” & “Learn” to go to its tutorial.
- Butterfly, The (Em) Unlock Learn
- Fig for a Kiss, A (E Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Redican’s Mother (D, a.k.a. Ryan’s Slip Jig; Fisherman’s) Unlock Learn
Slides, 12/8
Click a tune’s name to go to its web page. Or use “Unlock” & “Learn” to go to its tutorial.
- Going to the Well for Water (D) Unlock Learn
- Merrily Kissed the Quaker (G)
- O’Keefe’s Slide (A Dorian) Unlock Learn
- Road to Lisdoonvarna, The (E Dorian) Unlock Learn
Waltzes, 3/4
Click a tune’s name to go to its web page. Or use “Unlock” & “Learn” to go to its tutorial.
- Fanny Power (G, by Turlough O’Carolan)
- Si Bheag Si Mhor (D, by Turlough O’Carolan) Unlock Learn
- Sonny’s Mazurka (D) Unlock Learn
- South Wind (G)